MEET OUR TEAM
We have the privilege of working with wonderful people around the world to accomplish our mission of spreading hope. Our staff is diverse; we come from different countries and backgrounds, yet we are united as a team by our faith in Christ and our passion to spread hope throughout the communities in which we live and work.
MISSIONARIES
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Kiprop Family
William, Michelle, and Ryan Wiliam and Michelle have been married and serving together in Kenya since 2007. Their son Ryan was born in 2011. As they served together as a family, they felt the Lord laying needs on their heart that were so big that only a great God could meet them. They felt the Lord prompting them to follow his leading in taking some steps to grow health ministry in the region where they were living and serving. This ultimately led to the two of them founding Hope Matters International in 2013. They serve full time in the highlands of Kenya with regular visits to the USA to promote the growth and funding of the organization. William is our director of operations. He’s known as the guy who can get things done. Whether it’s getting a vehicle out of a muddy ditch, or leading our hospital through a tedious registration process, William dives in full-speed-ahead. Michelle is our executive director and is also a family nurse practitioner. She loves being able to serve in both administrative and medical capacities. They are humbled and honored to be able to see God working and moving in Kenya through the ministry of Hope Matters. |
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Baker Family
Russ & Maria In 2013, we took our first ever short-term missions’ trip with our home church to Kenya. That first trip was nothing that we expected and everything that we needed. God placed an instantaneous love for Kenyans in our hearts and a strong pull to Africa. At the time, we had no idea what any of this meant or how this affection could be anything more than an occasional return visit. Six years, and a combined 9 trips later, God made it clear to us that he was calling us to serve him in Kenya with Hope Matters International on a full-time basis. Moses was 80 when God called him, so we are actually quite young in biblical terms. We can look back decades in our lives and see how God was shaping and preparing us for this next step, even before we had ever visited Kenya. Even before we had the slightest idea, we would become missionaries at a time in our lives when most people our age are planning for their retirement. Russ is now serving in Kenya as a chaplain and as the property manager for Hope Matters’ two medical facilities. Maria heads up the Kenyan HR department and also assists with general management. We both love being able to step into people’s lives and engage in the practical side of ministry through prayer, mentorship, discipleship, and outreach. |
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Bouma Family
Curt & Jody, Luke, Cole, Case, and Rhett We are a family of six: Curt, Jody, Luke, Cole, Case, and Rhett. Jody actually started life as a 3rd generation nurse missionary living her first three years in Tanzania. Her heart for mission work also led her to serve in Cambodia for 11 months. Curt has been working as a doctor for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California ever since finishing school at Loma Linda University. He also served as a medical director of Assure pregnancy center. One Sunday morning while the Kiprop‘s were visiting Life Bible Fellowship church in Upland, California Pastor Phil Shabaz prayed for a doctor to help Hope Matters International and that started our family’s call to serve in Kenya. Jody can do many things as an expert home schooler and family nurse practitioner while Curt can help the hospital increase OBGYN services. |
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Thompson Family
Anthony, Katie, Lincoln, and Jackson Anthony and Katie met in 2011 during the beginning of an overseas partnership between a mission’s organization Tony was working for and a feeding program that Katie had helped develop in Cambodia. Even before marriage they dreamed of spending time with their kids on the mission field as full-time missionaries. Katie comes to Hope Matters with experience as a Nurse Practitioner in a pediatric cardiac ICU and also has spent extensive time as a neonatal ICU nurse. She is thrilled to blend her passions for nursing, children, and ministry as she serves with Hope Matters. Her job at the Village of Hope Hospital entails coming alongside and empowering pediatric nursing staff, and playing an instrumental role in helping to launch the first specialized newborn unit/NICU in the area. Tony has a proficiency in building and facilities as he was the Director of facilities at an American church for over a decade. He is serving at Hope Matters in the capacity of building, facilities, and construction projects at the hospital. Both Tony and Katie find deep joy in partnering with the Lord in applied ministry including discipleship, outreach, prayer, and deep personal relationship, while concentrating on family time with their two sons, Lincoln (age 5) and Jackson (age 3). |
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Dr. Steve Kotteman
Dr. Steve Kotteman comes to Hope Matters with decades of family practice experience. He has always had a heart for missions and ministry. He served as a family physician in his rural town of Lincoln, Illinois for many years treating illnesses and injuries, as well as providing preventative, maternity, and basic family wellness services. He also worked as a physician for the department of corrections in Illinois where he provided primary care at the highest level. Dr. Kotteman brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the table. After his first visit to Kenya, he felt the call to return and serve in a full-time capacity. It is his desires to use the time God gives him to help make a difference in the lives of his Kenyan patients who have struggled with limited access to care. He is also passionate about sharing what he has learned with others to help empower Hope Matters' Kenyan providers. |
USA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Michelle Kiprop
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Kenya Board Treasurer, USA Ex-Officio Board Member Michelle first traveled to Africa as a high school student. At that time, God put a vision in her heart to pursue medical missions in Africa. In 2007, she moved to Kenya to do full-time ministry after completing her Masters of Science in Nursing and becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her and William were married later that year. They welcomed Ryan into their family in 2011. Michelle has extensive experience in both management and patient care in Africa. She heads up the medical aspect of the ministry. |
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Dr. Eric Drewry
USA Board Chiarman After college, Eric spent two years in North Africa teaching English. After more schooling, he served low-income Georgians for two years as their advocate. His experiences serving the needy then included five years of serving refugees from SE Asia as their advocate and cross-cultural assistant and serving refugees from Central America as their interpreter and advocate. After that, he got married and helped raise two children during the couple's 15 years in East Asia. There, they helped a number of teams of North American and European teachers adjust and serve there successfully. At this time, he also taught a variety of courses to local college students and helped them with both academic and non-academic questions. Eric retired from teaching at Azusa Pacific University in 2019 and presently lives in Southern California. He and his wife have two grown children and have been married for 36 years. |
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Ed Ezaki
USA Board Treasurer Ed retired in 2019 after almost 28 years as Senior Pastor of Kingsburg Community Church in the California Central Valley. Following his retirement, Ed’s wife, Gretchen, a nursing instructor, brought him to Kenya for two months. It was Gretchen’s second trip teaching perinatal care of newborns to nurses and birth attendants. Ed, whose first career was as a CPA, was able to help with the financial management of the clinics. Ed was also able to help with the dedication celebrations of the Village of Hope Hospital and preached at the dedication. Ed joined the board of Hope Matters International in 2020 as the Treasurer. Ed has worked equipping pastors in Cambodia, Mexico, and Malaysia. Ed and Gretchen have three grown children and have been married for 35 years. |
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Suanna Wilson
USA Board Secretary Suanna is a Communications Professional who is committed to using her skills to expand the Kingdom of God. As a megachurch Communications Manager turned freelancer, Suanna has developed a unique perspective when creating branding and marketing campaigns for ministries and nonprofits. Suanna gave her life to Christ on the mission field during a short-term mission trip to Cambodia in 2012. In the years that followed she participated and led countless short-term mission teams. However, her heart was forever tethered to the nation of Kenya after serving there for the first time in 2014. Over the years, God has revealed glimpses of her purpose and calling in Kenya - to tell the story of Christ with all those she meets in Kenya and to create partnerships between people home in the US with the organizations that serve Kenyans. She has a passion and special place in her heart for serving children, youth and women in Africa. Suanna currently resides in Southern California with her husband and new daughter. She looks forward to returning to Kenya and serving as a new family of three. |
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Bobbie Kerns
USA Board Member, Office Administrator Bobbie is our USA office administrator and one of our founding board members. She has made multiple service trips to Africa starting in 2007. She has a passion for serving the poor and reaching out to the hurting with tangible expressions of love. She is passionate about helping empower children in Kenya to live healthy lives and have access to learning about Jesus and his love for them. Bobbie currently resides in California with her husband, is the mother of three adult children and grandmother of two. |
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Jacqueline Herrera
USA Board Member Jackie's first overseas short-term missions trip was to Kenya in 2012. That trip deepened her passion of seeing individuals be healed of emotional pain. She returned in 2013 to work with young women on the topic of forgiveness and purity. In 2015 she returned with her church to serve in a youth conference. That same year, she began her doctorate degree in clinical psychology at Azusa Pacific University. Her current research is focused on training caregivers of orphan and vulnerable children in Kenya. Her hope is to return to Kenya to equip others. |
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Stephen Medley Jr.
USA Board Member Steve traveled to Kenya for the first time in 2009 on a short term missions trip. After returning with the missions team again in 2010, he felt God leading him to serve for a year in Kenya with Empowering Lives International. While volunteering, he met and married his wife, Virginia. The couple currently resides in Texas, where Steve works as a software engineer. Steve provides IT and communications direction for Hope Matters International, while also providing insight on the cultural aspects of living and ministering in Kenya. |
KENYA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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William Kiprop
Co-Founder & Director of Africa Operations, Kenya Board Chairman William was born and raised in the highlands of Kenya. His background is in sustainable agriculture and Non-Government-Organization work. He is a husband and father who cares deeply for his fellow Kenyans and desires to see them empowered. He met Michelle in 2004 and they were married in 2007. In 2012 he and Michelle began to explore possibilities for the founding of Hope Matters, a ministry that would focus on empowering and equipping through healthcare and other sustainable programs in rural areas of Kenya. In addition to being the Kenyan Board Chairman, he oversees the daily operations of Hope Matters in Kenya. |
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Michelle Kiprop
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Kenya Board Treasurer Michelle first traveled to Africa as a high school student. At that time, God put a vision in her heart to pursue medical missions in Africa. In 2007, she moved to Kenya to do full-time ministry after completing her Masters of Science in Nursing and becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her and William were married later that year. They welcomed Ryan into their family in 2011. Michelle has extensive experience in both management and patient care in Africa. She heads up the medical aspect of the ministry. |
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Geoffrey Kirui
Kenya Board Secretary Geoffrey Kirui is a social scientist by profession. He has a Diploma in Project Management, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Arts in Sociology. He has undergone various professional training programs in and outside Kenya. He has been involved in the public and private sector including consulting on social research, public policy, and project management. His areas of experience are social research, institutional development, project & performance management, monitoring & evaluation, resource mobilization, networking and partnerships. Geoffrey's experience will be vital to ensuring the growth of the organization in its operations and resource base. |
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Sammy Sareto
Kenya Board Member Sammy is a husband and a father. He has a wealth of experience in management in both the public and private sectors of Kenya. He currently sits on a number of boards of public institutions. He brings with him a rich contextual knowledge of the livelihoods of the rural Kenyan population, having been born and brought up in the same settings. His background has fueled his passion to give back to the community through his service with Hope Matters. |